Fire investigators have determined that discarded smoking material catching a decorative column on the building’s south side is behind the Monday morning structure fire at the Hampton Inn of Hernando, located on McIngvale Road.
According to a news release from the Hernando Fire Department, investigators needed about six hours of work to make the determination after the fire was put under control. Officials said the fire traveled from the ground level to the roof, “producing unburned fuel throughout the open space in the hotel structure that resulted in a smoke explosion” when it was ignited.
The Hernando Fire Department was assisted by the DeSoto County Fire Marshal’s Office, State Fire Marshal’s Office and the ATF in the investigation of the fire’s origin.
Firefighters were called to the four-story hotel shortly after 9 a.m. Monday and worked to put out the blaze. Staff and guests all evacuated the facility safely and there were no injuries.
Other departments, including Southaven and the Love Volunteer department, were called in to assist Hernando firefighters put out the blaze.
Hernando Fire Chief Marshel Berry said their investigation of the blaze is complete and the building has been turned back over to hotel ownership and their insurance company to start remediation.
